Concrete Mix Design

Steps Involved

Calculate target mean strength: f ck' f ck 1.65

(Table 1: IS 10262:

2009)

Assumed moderate exposure condition for reinforced concrete and hence:

o

Max free water cement ratio = 0.5

(Table 5: IS

456)
o

Minimum cementitous content = 300 Kg./m3

(Table 5: IS

456)

Decides on adopted water cement ratio

(Manual

choice)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mistakes made:

(Clause 4.2; Table 2: IS

10262: 2009)

Select water content (based on the nominal maximum size of aggregate)

o

In this step, we made a mistake by taking the maximum allowable water

content, this could and shall have been taken lesser, which surely could have
lead to reduced cement requirement

Obtain the required water content by about 3% increase for every additional 25 mm of
slump over 50 mm slump.
o

Same could have been achieved with use of plasticizer alone also and thus
would have lead to less water requirement and corresponding lesser need of
cementitous material

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Calculate total cementitous content, using w/c ratio and calculated water content
o

Check that the maximum and minimum cement requirement (durability)

criteria are satisfied.

(Clause 4.3; IS 10262:

2009)

For Fly Ash Addition:

o

(Manual Choice)

Decide on % increase in cementitous content and calculate the modified

cementitous content and w/c ratio.

(Not

required)
o

Decide on % Fly Ash to be used and thus calculate the Fly Ash content and
corresponding OPC content

Check that fly ash content is with in prescribed limits

Estimate coarse and fine aggregate prop.

(Clause 4.4-4.6; Table 3: IS 10262:

2009)
o

Adjustments for w/c ratio other than 0.5 shall have been made (though not
mandatory and has no effect on cement content)